White Cod, Bakalar na bijelo, seafood

Описание: Cod (Latin: Gadus morhua) is a marine fish from the Gadidae family. This fish, which is a traditional dish in almost the entire Mediterranean. The main habitats of cod are actually the cold seas of the North Atlantic, the seas along the coasts of Norway and the Baltic, then around Iceland, Canada, Greenland and the United States of America. It also inhabits the northern and polar seas. In Spain and Portugal, it is one of the most important dishes of the national cuisine. There are three types of cod: Atlantic, Pacific and Greenland cod. The fish is gray-brown with dark spots and a white belly, and has an elongated head and strong jaws. It can grow up to 150 cm and more, but usually 60 to 70 cm cod is caught. It can grow up to one meter and weigh up to 20 kilograms. Because it lives in cold seas, it develops rather slowly, so it takes about seven years to grow to this edible size.

Due to the increasing popularity of this fish on the world market (whose biggest exporters are Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Canada and Poland) and due to the impossibility of breeding, this species is threatened with extinction, so many animal protection organizations are in favor of limiting hunting.

Cod is a highly valued fish that is used in food, especially dried and salted. Cod is mostly consumed fresh or frozen. In addition, cod is preserved by salting and drying. Salted and smoked cod are particularly popular specialties in Northern European countries. Oil is produced from cod liver, which is an excellent source of vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin A, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Cod meat has a mild taste and is an excellent substitute for proteins from the meat of domestic animals, and it is extremely rich in important fatty acids. These acids are important for building cell membranes.